Broom.



i. J. HOLLENSBE.

BROOM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2.1915.

Patented May 28,1918,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

u) 0,} e m l/E/VTOR Wig/Ma WITNESSES M May,- A TTORNEY l J. HOLLENSBE.

BROOM. v

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2, 191s.

Patented May 28,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

BRO 0M.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2, 1916. Serial No. 75,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA J. HOLLENSBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county of Decatur and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brooms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of manufacturing brooms by mechanical means adapted to supplant the present methods of hand-manufacture, and has for its objects: first, to produce a broom of such construction that the user may purchase with his first broom a permanent interchangeable, detachable handle and clamp adapted to hold the brush of the broom, and subsequently may procure from the manufacturer of my broom brush ends only adapted to fit said interchangeable handle and clamp; second, to furnish a detachable clamp for the broom which shall have smooth surfaces completely surrounding the broom instead of fragmentary sheet stamp ings, and thus correct the previousdefects of such clamps from their liability to scratch furniture when using the broom; and, third, to provide an instantly detachable clampconstruction adapted to more rigidly hold the brush than has been possible to previous mechanical clamps or handmade brooms, and capable of attachment without the use of any screws, bolts or other devices separate from such clamp.

I attain the objects stated by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a reduced front elevation of my broom with a part of its handle broken away; Fig. 2 is a reduced end elevation of the same broom shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a full-size central longitudinal section taken through the shoulder of the same broom shown in Fig. 1,'with the outer end of the brush and part of the handle broken away; Fig. 4 is a full-size transverse section taken through the shoulder end of the broom on the line M, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the outer end of the brush and part of the handle broken away, showing the manner in which the conical point of the handle is forced into the compressed material of the brush, when compacted within the clamp walls; Fig. 5 is a full-size central longitudinal section through shape assumed myvassembled clamp, with the brush removed and the lower end of the handle in position to show how the latter automatically locks the broom parts together; Fig. 6 is a full-size central transverse section through the same assembled clamp and handle shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional detail of the handle and sleeve shown locking together fragments of the clamp sides, to illustrate the mode in which the respective tapered members automatically lock each other together; Fig. 8 is a full-size end view of my clamp opened out to show the hinge action and sutures for locking its edges; Fig. 9 is a view of one of the elliptical rings used for integratingthe brush of my broom before its reception of the straw and compression Patented May 28, 1918.

thereon; Fig. 10 is a view of the same' broom-ring depicted in Fig. .9, showing the after it has been compressed on the contained straw to a round oblong contour, as also indicated by Figs. 3 and 4:; Fig. 11 is an end'view of the same hinged clamp depicted in Fig. 8, but shown closed to exhibit the method in which its halves are made to spring apart so as to require compressive shutting thereof by the sleeve and handle for the tight locking together of the broom; Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing that part of the stamped blank from which that side of my clamp is made which is provided with the female leaves of the hinge; Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional internal elevation of the fragment of one of my clamps showing the construction of the male leaf of one of its hinges; Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional internal elevation of the opposite side of my clamp to that shown in Fig. 13, showing the female leaf of the same hinge of which the male leaf is shown at top of Fig. 13; Fig.15 is a much enlarged sectional view taken on the line 15-15, Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows, to show the manner in which the male leaf engages within the female leaf of one of my clamp hinges.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, l is the brush of my broom having stitchings 2 applied thereto in the ordinary manner but having the fibers of its brush tip 3 left pracwhich the broom-ring w brush therein.

ticall; untriinmed in their natural state instead of being cut off at their outer ends to form the brush, as in the ordinary broom, and having the coarser stub ends of said fibers trimmed elf so as to give the broom shoulder a contour adapted to fit the internal configuration of the socket formed by the inwardly facing hollow female half and male half 6 of my detachable bifurcated clamp as clear from Figs. 3 and l.

Figs. 3, l, 9 and 10 indicate the manner in 7 is used for integrating the shoulder a of the broom under powerful compression, the straw being inserted when said broom-ring 7 has the open elliptical figure shown in Fig. 9 and then compressed under great pressure until it assumes the rounded oblong contour shown in Figs. 3, l and 10. Both halves of the clamp have a continuous oppositely registering ring-cavity 8 within which said broom-ring 7 is adapted to be securely locked and held by the closure of my clamp, and thus provide a positive means for retaining the The opposite compression faces '9 of the female half 5 and 10 of the male half 6 abruptly bend outward by shoulders 11 and 1'2 to form the sides 13 and ll of the expansion socket 15, so as to permit the shoulder of the broom to exp ansively lock itself in position within the clamp when the broom-ring 7 shall have been engaged within the broom-ring cavity 8.

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive with Fig. 11, show the assembled hinge and locking mechanism of my mechanical broom. The fulcrum upon which the pressure is applied for forcibly compressing he brush in the socket is the hinge 17, whose female leaves 18, formed on the female half 5 of the clamp, are provided with inwardly turned locking flanges 19 bent to form the hinge cavities 20, within which the male leaves '21, formed on the male half 6 of the clamp. enter and are adapted to freely turn, but are lockedly held therein to form the hinge of the clamp. The outer end of the clamp is preferably formed by an ornamental brush flange 22 integrally dependent therefrom below the broom-ring cavity 8 and sweeping up to support the hinges 17. integrally coextensive sutures 23 and 2 formed on either side of the female half 5 interlock beneath the opposite edges 25 on either side of the male half 6 of the clamp, and opposite integrally coextensive sutures Q6v formed on either side of the male half 6 of the clamp interlock beneath the opposite edges 2'? of the female half 5 of the clamp, so that said sutures shall be invisible and said respective edges 25 and 27 form a single continuous joint line when the clamp is locked.

The construction by which my handle is locked to the clamp is one of the most essential features of my invention because it is mousse designed to substitute a plain handle without any applied fastenings for the compli cated handle with screws, bolts and other fastenings hitherto employed upon mechanical brooms. This construction is clear from Figs. l, 8 and 11. Ylhenthe brush has been inserted through the clamp in the open positionshown by 8, and the clamp closed on its hinge the joint thereof is normally sprung strongly apart. as indicated by the gap 2-8 in Fig. 11. This joint is then brought togetherby my peculiar construction consisting of the sonically tapered female handle holder 29 coextensive from the female half 5 of the clamp and the oppositely facing conical tapered male handle holder 30 coextensive from the malehalf 6 of the clamp, which handle holders when squeezed tightly together form an accurate lit over the conically tapered lockingshank 31 of the broom handle and in engagement thereon by the comically tapered locking sleeve 33 all of said members 29, 30, 31 and 83 having the same degree of taper. The extreme tii of the broom handle 84: so as to fit itto be tightly wedged between the highly compacted fibers of the shoulder 4 of the brush, as indicated in Fig. t. It is obvious that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. i, and said broom handle 32 given a smart blow, the simultaneous result is to spread apart the fibers of the shoulder t under great compressior from the entrance of the conically tapered tip at therein, and wedgedly force the tapered locking-shank 31 between the tapered female handle holder 29 and tapered male handle holder 80 against the interior of the tapered locking-sleeve 33, all of which members thus become securely locked toget-her and it is also evident that further pressure incidental to using the broom, tends always to further increase said locking effect rather than release same, but that all of the members can be freely released by a smart blow upon the clamp with any solid object when it is desired to remove the handle for replacing the brush.

When the handle is forced home within the clamp, its male and female halves 6 and are prevented from sliding over each other laterally by the interlocking sutures and 26, thus leaving the hinges -17 solely to resist the transverse strains and subject to no sidcwise motion. AS shown in the figures, I prefer to bend the upper end of my tapered locking-sleeve 38 into a straight cylindr'c collar so as to lieflat upon the straight shank of the handle and to compensate for the thickness of the female handle half-member 29 and male handle half-member 30, but it is clear that the function of such cylindric collar is to give merchantable finish to the broom and are retained is formed into a sharp conical point 1 it may be modified without changing the mechanical functions of either said sleeve or handle.

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusiveare much enlarged details showing the method of forming the hinge of my bifurcated clamp. Fig. 12 shows a fragmentary view of one of the sides of the female blank from which the female half of the hinge is to be formed, the dotted lines of this view giving the lines upon which the necessary die-bendings, and the hinge center 17, have to be formed in order to produce the construction shown in Fig. 14. It will be noted that the locking-flange 19 is cut in the flat integral with the female ear 18 of said blank 5 but, as clear from Fig. 13, the male leaf 21 is left quite flat and unformed from the time of its original blanking out with a curvature fitting it to enter beneath said locking-flange 19. Fig. 15 viewed in connection with Fig. 6, shows that the hinge thus formed is one of very great strength, although the employment of no hinge pin is required, this being desirable to render the broom as simple as possible for general use.

I claim that it is possible by a broom of my construction to furnish to the broomuser a perpetually renewable broom at onehalf the cost of any previously known handmade or mechanically-made broom, for thereason that he has only to purchase the brush alone for such complete renewal. While I admit that other detachable clamps have been devised which were intended to fulfil the objects of my invention, I claim that all such previous attempts have been mechanical failures for the reason that they are either too complicated to be commercially practicable, or are too weak to sueeessfully hold the broom together in actual use, whereas my invention not only possesses greater rigidity and strength than any previous broom construction but its extreme simplicity renders it practical for economical general distribution.

Recognizing that a number of variations in form may be given to the essential elements of the hinged clamp, mutually locked together with my taper-shank conical-pointed handle, so as to securely hold a brush, whether integrated by a broom-ring or otherwise, I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular type of construction shOWn in the drawings, but reserve the liberty of varying the same without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a broom, a brush; a detachable two part clamp adapted to securely envelop one end of the brush, each part of the clamp having handle half-members; a separately movable sleeve adapted to embrace said handle half-members, and a handle having a tapered shank wedging between the handle half-members and tightening them against the sleeve, said handle having a tapering extension which is driven into the brush below the handle half-members.

2. In a broom, abrush, an externally located binder passing laterally around and securing together the collected fiber of the brush, a 'twopart clamp for inclosing the butt end of the brush and provided in its inner walls with alined grooves for receiving the external binder 'of the brush when the free ends of the clamp are brought together, separation of said free ends of the clamp, and interlocking hinge-members arranged on opposite sides and ends of the two-part clamp for hingedly connecting the latter together.

3. In a broom, a brush; a male half-clamp having thereon male hinge leaves; a female half-clamp having thereon female hinge leaves with inwardly turned locking flanges adapted to be interlockedly engaged by said male hinge leaves to form hinges for either side of said bifurcated clamp; hollow handle half-members, one on either half of said bifurcated clamp adapted to receive a handle; a handle adapted to be held within said hollow handle half-members; and a sleeve member adapted to telescope over said half-members for holding same in engagement upon said handle.

4. In abroom, a brush; a detachable hinged bifurcated clamp adapted to scouredly envelop the shoulder end of said brush; conically tapered handle half-members, co extensive with the halves of said bifurcated clamp; a handle provided with a conical point for wedgedly entering said brush compacted within said clamp and with a conically tapered locking-shank adapted to fit within said hollow handle half-members, said handle and said half-members having identical tapers; and a locking sleeve having the same conical taper as said half- Inembers, adapted to telescopically slide over the latter and, upon the entrance of said handle within said clamp, to mutually lock together said halves thereof, said brush therein, said sleeve and said handle.

5. In a broom, a brush provided with a. broom-ring adapted to integrate the fibers thereof under pressure; a detachable hinged bifurcated clamp adapted to envelop the shoulder of said brush and to lockedly engage said broom-ring; tapered hollow handle half-members, one formed integrally on either half of said bifurcated clamp, adapted to receive a handle; a handle provided with a conical point adapted to wedgedly spread the fibers of said brush within said clamp and provided with a conically tapered locking-shank adapted to engage said 130 means for preventing accidental I :5 adapted, upon the introduction of said taered looking-shank of said handle Within said hollow half-members, to automatically look together all parts of said broom.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my name at the city of Indianapolis in the 1 county of Marion this seventeenth day of January 1916.

IRA J. HOLLENSBE. Witnesses:

PAUL E. KRmR, FOSTER 0. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

